World Cup 2010 - South Africa

There are now 32 countries booked for the World Cup finals - with the tournament arriving before we know it, let's take a look at some of the key facts for each team. The qualifying nations are listed below by group, click on a link for a fact file about each team and predictions. The stage is set for one of the best tournaments in ages - do we say this every year? I think so.

Will Messi shine as he has for Barcelona and bring his idol another World Cup title but this time as manager? Will Wayne Rooney bring a World Cup trophy to England? Will Spain, with loads of talent, from Torres to Xavi to Iniesta, win a title? Will Brazil again become World Cup champs? The theatrics and drama will come in June.

The boss: Nutty professor Raymond Domenech, although not for want of trying to get rid of him. He’s hugely unpopular with the French press, and the FFF’s lined up Laurent Blanc as a replacement.

Qualifying: Shouldn’t really be there. Thierry Henry’s hand saw them scrape through a play-off with Ireland in the most contentious of circumstances.

Best result: World Cup winners on home soil in 1998, beaten finalists in 2006.

MVP: Bayern Munich playmaker Franck Ribery needs to carry the side on his shoulders; he’s the only one with something special going forwards.

Prediction: 2002 all over again – shocked by Uruguay in their opener and dumped out as the tournament’s first major casualty.

Mexico

The boss: The hot-headed Javier Aguirre returned for a second spell as his nation’s coach a year ago, after a successful three-year spell with Atletico Madrid.

Qualifying: Aguirre rescued them after Sven-Goran Eriksson’s awful start; eventually a comfortable second behind the USA in CONCACAF.

Best result: Quarter-finals on home turf in both 1970 and 1986.

MVP: Captain Rafael Marquez isn’t getting a lot of game-time at Barcelona at the moment, but has bags of experience at either centre back or holding midfield.

Prediction: Will disappoint and fall at the first hurdle.

South Africa

The boss: Carlos Alberto Parreira – in his second spell in charge of the hosts – will set a new benchmark when he manages his fifth team at a World Cup this summer. He won the tournament with Brazil in 1994.

Qualifying: As hosts, they didn’t have to qualify. Lucky, they wouldn’t have made it. A very positive display at the Confederations Cup last summer though.

Best result: This will be their third tournament; didn’t make it past the first round in 1998 or 2002.

MVP: Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar has tenacity and talent with equal measure, and is ready to graduate onto the world stage.

Prediction: The spirit that brought them Rugby World Cup glory in 1995 may get them out of the group, and that will be plenty for a side that just doesn’t have the players.

Uruguay

The boss: Oscar Tabarez has managed sides from AC Milan to Boca Juniors. He was in charge of Uruguay for the 1990 World Cup, the last time they made the knockout rounds.

Qualifying: The last of the 32 teams to make it, defeating Costa Rica in a two-legged play-off in November 2009.

Best result: Won the first World Cup, in 1930, and again in 1950.

MVP: Forward Luis Suarez is a little bit special, and has scored at more than a goal a game for Ajax this season. He and Diego Forlan should form a lethal partnership up top.

Prediction: Shocking France to top the group, but falling early in the knockouts.

Argentina

The boss: A certain Mr Maradona. Win 4-0 in his first game, lose 6-1 in Bolivia, launch an expletive-filled tirade after securing qualification with 6 minutes to spare. Expect fireworks.

Qualifying: Mario Bolatti to the rescue with that decisive goal in Montevideo, after a series of away defeats left it looking unlikely.

Best result: Winners in 1978 and 1986.

MVP: It’d be foolish to argue against Lionel Messi, who may be the finest player on the planet, but it’s veteran Juan Sebastien Veron that pulls the strings.

Prediction: A recent defeat of Germany bodes well, but you never know what to expect. Quarters, but no further.

Greece

The boss: German Otto Rehhagel has been in charge since 2001, resisting advances from his homeland after Euro 2004 glory. His team will be well-drilled, but won’t attack much.

Qualifying: Second in Euro Group 2; scraped and defended their way past Ukraine in the play-offs.

Best result: Shock champions at Euro 2004, but this will only be their second World Cup. Didn’t make it past the first round at USA ’94.

MVP: Theofanis Gekas was the top scorer in European qualifying, but barely plays club soccer. He just loves putting that national shirt on.

Prediction: Won’t last long. Good riddance, the neutrals will say.

Nigeria

The boss: Former Swedish boss Lars Lagerback doesn’t have long to make his mark, the former Sweden boss having replaced Shuaibu Amodu in late February after a poor Africa Cup of Nations showing.

Qualifying: Unbeaten in all 12 qualifiers, but still just scraped in ahead of Tunisia.

Best result: The ‘90s were their golden days – won the 1996 Olympics, and made the last 16 of the World Cup in 1994 and 1998.

MVP: John Obi Mikel is the water carrier at Chelsea, but is given the freedom to pull the strings further forward, wearing number 10 for his national side.

Prediction: If they can grab second in Group C, will fancy themselves against the victors of Group A, so can make the quarters.

South Korea

The boss: Huh Jung-Moo scored the goal that took them to the 1986 World Cup; in his third spell as the national boss.

Qualifying: Unbeaten throughout, and took four points off their fierce Northern rivals.

Best result: Made the semi-finals as co-hosts in 2002, beating Italy on the way.

MVP: Captain Park Ji-Sung has got World Cup and top-level European club experience with Manchester United.

Prediction: Need to beat Greece in what promises to be a low-scoring opener – can make the knockouts if they do so.

Algeria

The boss: Rabah Saadane is enjoying an incredible fifth spell as national team manager, over nearly 30 years.

Qualifying: Beat arch-rivals Egypt 1-0 in a winner-takes-all play-off, after finishing their qualifying group dead level.

Best result: Made the finals in 1982 and 1986, but not past the first round.

MVP: Nadir Belhadj plays left back for Portsmouth, but will be a chief creative influence from further up the flank for ‘The Desert Foxes’.

Prediction: For the neutral, it’s a shame they and not Egypt qualified. Won’t make the knockouts.

England

The boss: Italian Fabio Capello answers to no-one and now commands huge popular support in his adopted home, but has got no international tournament experience.

Qualifying: The top scorers in European qualifying; whooped Croatia home and away to progress with two games to spare. Impressive.

Best result: 44 years of hurt, since lifting the Jules Rimet trophy in 1966.

MVP: Most-certainly Wayne Rooney. A classic number 10, everything will go through the Manchester United forward, who’s turned into a 30-goal-a-season man this term.

Prediction: Semi-finals, at the very least.

Slovenia

The boss: Matjaz Kek was a defensive leader as a player, and has directed the national side with distinction since 2007.

Qualifying: Second behind Slovakia in their group, an important late goal in Russia and a 1-0 home win saw them defeat Guus Hiddink’s fancied side on away goals in their play-off.

Best result: Since forming in 1992, they’ve only made the World Cup once, losing all their games in 2002.

MVP: Lanky Cologne striker Milivoje Novakovic will be relied on to score the goals, as he did during the qualifiers.

Prediction: Group stage losers.

United States

The boss: Referees won’t want to be the target of a Bob Bradley glare. Not much of a player himself, he got his first coaching job at 22. Son Michael plays in midfield.

Qualifying: Cruised through in CONCACAF top spot. Included a 9-0 drubbing of Barbados.

Best result: 3rd place back in 1930.

MVP: 121-cap Landon Donovan proved his doubters wrong with an impressive recent spell on loan with Everton, and has pace to burn.

Prediction: Knocked out by Germany in the last 16.

Australia

The boss: Pim Verbeek was assistant to Guus Hiddink during South Korea’s 2002 campaign. Should be good fun in press conferences.

Qualifying: Apparently Australia is now a part of Asia. Were beaten by Iraq and China early on, but eventually cruised through well ahead of Japan.

Best result: Desperately unlucky to be eliminated by Italy in the last 16 in 2006.

MVP: 37-year-old Mark Schwarzer has truly become a top-class ‘keeper since his move to Fulham, and is now getting European experience.

Prediction: Have got a shot at the last 16, but might be unlucky.

Germany

The boss: Joachim Low has got his critics, but he’s bold and seems to want to cram as much attacking talent in his 11 as possible.